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Neighbors who've lived in the area for two decades and jog every day said they usually feel safe, until they heard about the assaults.

"I was shocked and surprised to hear about that," Steve Kreutzer said. "I’ve been here for 20 years or longer and never really heard of anything like that before. As close to home as this was, it really surprised me.”

Police said they were looking for a roaming group of male teenagers described as being between 16 and 18 years old.

"I'm not surprised these days, though, because different things happen in all kinds of areas," Fort Thomas resident Kathy Seal said.

In the first attack, a 14-year-old boy was punched in the face while jogging minutes behind his father. About 40 minutes later, a woman was slapped on the behind while she was running. When a good Samaritan tried to help, the attackers punched him in the mouth.

Police said the three assaults happened on the Highland Avenue Overpass, where Nick Thaxton walks every day.

"It makes me a little nervous because I thought that Fort Thomas was a really safe, comfortable community where people were willing to look out for each other. It's a little disturbing to know there are some youngsters out here causing trouble," said Thaxton.

Police also said the teenagers may have walked over to Southgate, where they snatched a runner's phone out of his hands in front of a church.

Detectives said the incident was being investigated as a theft since no physical altercation happened.

"Maybe it makes you think twice about the neighborhood we live in," Thaxton said.

Neighbors said they were changing their jogging patterns and staying alert.

"It's not uncommon to see people even out at 10 o’clock at night walking or running. It is a surprise and shock that something like this going on," Kreutzer said.

Anyone with information about either crime is asked to call Campbell County Dispatch at 859-292-3622.